Sound From The Heart: [Thai Movie Review] Love of Siam/รักแห่งสยาม

I'd like to review this movie. Maybe you haven't heard this Thai film. It's not so booming in Indonesia, but it was booming in Thailand. I watched this for the first time umm looks like one or two years ago, and I think, not many film director or production house have producted movie like this one because the theme is very unusual. It's about finding "identity". Maybe I should give the casts first ;)

Directed by : Chookiat Sakveerakul

Staring : Mario Maurer as Tong, Witwisit Hiranyawongkul as Mew, Jirayu Laongmanee as Little Tong, Artit Niyomkul as Little Mew, Sinjai Plengpanich as Sunee (Tong's Mother), Songsit Rungnopakunsri as Korn (Tong's Father), Chermarn Boonyasak as June/Tang, Kanya Rattanapetch as Ying, Aticha Pongsilpipat as Donut, etc.

The story began when Tong, an energetic boy, accidentally spitted gum into Mew's hair. Mew is a calm and musical boy. Mew lived with his grandma. At the school, Tong helped Mew when Mew was being bullied by another students. And then, they became close friend.

One day, Tong's family went to Chiang Mai, but came back without Tang (Tong's sister). Tang want to stay with her friend longer. Tong's getting closer with Mew. Tong bought Mew a present and decided to give it to Mew piece by piece in a game of Treasure Hunt. One by one, Mew found all of the pieces except for the last one which was hidden in a tree. The tree was cut down before Mew was able to retrieve it leaving the present Tong bought for Mew incomplete. Tong was disappointed at their misfortune, but Mew remained grateful for Tong's efforts. Tang called her parents and told them that she would extend her stay at Chiangmai until the 24th of December.

Unfortunately, Tang had an accident and she's lost. Tong felt very sad and Mew tried to cheer him up as he can. (That's very touching for me.) As they cannot find Tang, Tong's family decided to move.

Time goes by. Six years later, they met at Siam Square. Mew has became a lead singer of his band, and Tong's now has a pretty girlfriend, named Donut. Mew also has secret admirer named Ying. But after meet Tong, Mew realized that he has feeling to Tong. And they meet June, who really much like Tang. So, Tong's mother want June to help her husband from desperation because Tang's lost.

Tong and Mew became closer, until one day, Tong kissed Mew at his house. They've realized that they have "feeling" for each other. But Sunee saw this. And she tried to block this relationship. So their relationship is getting fader and fader.

At Christmas time, as Tong and his mother are decorating a Christmas tree, they have a heart-to-heart talk about making choices, and Tong asks his mother to let him make his own choices.
Tong then goes to Siam Square for a date with Donut. Mew's band is playing nearby, so Tong abandons Donut and tells her that he cannot be with her. He then rushes to see Mew play and is guided there by Ying, who has accepted the fact that Mew loves Tong. After the performance, Tong gives Mew a gift, the missing nose from the wooden doll that Tong gave him when they were children. However, Tong tells Mew he can't be his boyfriend but that doesn't mean he doesn't love Mew.

The movie ended with Mew putting the missing nose back to the wooden puppet, saying "thank you" and crying quietly.

So, what can we learn from this movie? It's not about the gay-side, but many moral values we can learn, about love, about friendship, about family, about religion, and about life.

This one is a quote that Mew said when he was telling Tong about his late grandma.

"If we can love someone so much, how will we be able to handle it one day when we are separated? And if being separated is a part of life, and you know about separation well, is it possible that we can love someone and never be afraid of losing them? [Or,] is it possible that we can live our entire life without loving at all?"

Also from Ying, when Mew want to ask about Chinese phrase that he couldn't understand, but later he found Ying kept Mew's photos.

Ying: "It means, 'As long as you love, you will still have hope.'
Mew: "So, Ying, are you still hoping?"
Ying: "And should I still hope?"

And this one is Tang's/June's letter to Sunee and Korn

"I have been thinking. How will you make it from now on? But I believe so much that you can make it without me, because you have so much love for one another. Even though, sometimes, it seems to be too much that we end up hurting each other. But I believe as time goes by, we should agree that there is no such thing as 'too much love. Even if we made mistakes along the way, it's better than never having tried to love and be loved. Wouldn't you agree? Life always gives us opportunities to start over after we learn from our mistakes. I hope you take these opportunities and take good care of one another. Thank you for everything. I hope there's a chance that we will see each other again."

Memorable quotes from Tong is not so long, but yet, also meaningful! This is when he and Sunee were decorating Christmas Tree.

"What if I choose one and you don't like it again?"

And this one, when he met Mew for the last time.

"I can't be your boyfriend, but that doesn't mean I don't love you."

Oh ya, you should find the soundtrack's lyrics, sooooo deep yet meaningful.

How do you think about this review? Satisfying? Or confusing? Hahah..I score this movie 9/10 :D

Some extra pictures... (credit from many sources)

Little Mew and Little Tong

Tong and June

On the Bed

Tong is Decorating Christmas Tree with Mom

Tong with Donut

Umm, I want to insert the girls picture, the director's choice is really good, even Madame Sunee is really gorgeous LOL...(credit from many sources)